diff --git a/drivers/i3c/master.c b/drivers/i3c/master.c
index abb582645a2e..2357874bb9d6 100644
--- a/drivers/i3c/master.c
+++ b/drivers/i3c/master.c
@@ -842,6 +842,11 @@ static struct attribute *i3c_masterdev_attrs[] = {
 };
 ATTRIBUTE_GROUPS(i3c_masterdev);
 
+static void i3c_master_free_i3c_dev(struct i3c_dev_desc *dev)
+{
+	kfree(dev);
+}
+
 static void i3c_masterdev_release(struct device *dev)
 {
 	struct i3c_master_controller *master = dev_to_i3cmaster(dev);
@@ -854,6 +859,8 @@ static void i3c_masterdev_release(struct device *dev)
 	i3c_bus_cleanup(bus);
 
 	fwnode_handle_put(dev->fwnode);
+
+	i3c_master_free_i3c_dev(master->this);
 }
 
 static const struct device_type i3c_masterdev_type = {
@@ -1125,11 +1132,6 @@ static void i3c_device_release(struct device *dev)
 	kfree(i3cdev);
 }
 
-static void i3c_master_free_i3c_dev(struct i3c_dev_desc *dev)
-{
-	kfree(dev);
-}
-
 static struct i3c_dev_desc *
 i3c_master_alloc_i3c_dev(struct i3c_master_controller *master,
 			 const struct i3c_device_info *info)
@@ -2266,6 +2268,8 @@ int i3c_master_set_info(struct i3c_master_controller *master,
 	return 0;
 
 err_free_dev:
+	master->bus.cur_master = NULL;
+	master->this = NULL;
 	i3c_master_free_i3c_dev(i3cdev);
 
 	return ret;
@@ -2286,7 +2290,8 @@ static void i3c_master_detach_free_devs(struct i3c_master_controller *master)
 					i3cdev->boardinfo->init_dyn_addr,
 					I3C_ADDR_SLOT_FREE);
 
-		i3c_master_free_i3c_dev(i3cdev);
+		if (i3cdev != master->this)
+			i3c_master_free_i3c_dev(i3cdev);
 	}
 
 	list_for_each_entry_safe(i2cdev, i2ctmp, &master->bus.devs.i2c,